Autumn Book & Craft Market

Description

Derby Book Festival's Autumn Book and Craft Market returns in 2026, taking place at Derby Market Hall.

Pop along to our bustling Book and Craft Market in Derby Market Hall and browse over 25 stalls offering creative ideas for book-loving family and friends! 

We’ll have our popular book stall, with our bookshop cards and prints, our Picture Book Award winners and signed books from 2026 and past Festival events. Meet authors, regional publishers and fantastic local artisans. 

Many stalls will offer craft activities throughout the day. You can see The Smallprint Company's printing press in action! Create a destination in cardboard in Doodleshire - a railway map made of imagination and doodles!

In the Ordish Room

Upstairs in the Market Hall we will have a drop-in craft morning from 10.30am-12.30pm where you can try your hand at book page paper crafts or Book Bedazzling for a £1 per item - bring along your favourite book to decorate or purchase a small item to bedazzle.

In the afternoon a drop-in family board games session from 1.15pm-3.45pm - join in with your pick of fun family board games.

On the Stage

In the morning from 11am we will have a short programme of author readings from our stallholders from 11am - 12.30pm as follows:

11am - Susan Hughes - children's author

11.15am - Ellen Nancy - children's author

11.30am - Anne Goodwin

11.45am -  Clare Stevens

12pm - Write Queer

12.15pm - Cherie Baker

We will have book-inspired music from Derby Saxophone Quartet in the afternoon with performances at 1.30pm and 2.45pm.

Plus the chance to pick up a programme and book your tickets for our Autumn 2026 events!

This event is free to the public, so make sure you save the date and pop on down to the Market Hall - open from 10.30am until 4pm. 

Derby Book Festival website